NHTSA is beginning its first major tire-standards overhaul in more than 20 years
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a notice on October 27 announcing its intent to establish a Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Tire Safety. The agency says the committee will develop consensus recommendations for a future proposal to modernize federal tire requirements and test procedures. This is the start of a rulemaking process—not a final rule or an immediate change to tire requirements.
The committee will review tests and newer tire technology
The proposed scope includes the continued necessity and effectiveness of the tire-strength or plunger-energy test, the bead-unseating resistance test and the tire-endurance or chunking test in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 109, 119 and 139. The committee would also consider non-pneumatic tires, modernized tire markings and a Tire and Rim Association petition to include Load Range F light-truck tires in FMVSS 139.
Up to 18 stakeholders would seek consensus
The Secretary of Transportation would appoint up to 18 members representing tire manufacturers or retailers, vehicle manufacturers, industry associations, safety organizations, research or testing institutions, engineering groups and standards organizations. An NHTSA representative would also participate. The committee is expected to produce a detailed term sheet of consensus recommendations and would end after completing that work or within two years unless its charter is renewed.
Comments and membership applications are due November 27
NHTSA is asking for feedback on the committee’s scope and the balance of its proposed membership under docket NHTSA-2026-1717. Comments must be received by November 27, 2026. Membership applications are also due by 5 p.m. Eastern that day. Fleet, maintenance and safety organizations that submit comments should provide specific evidence about real-world tire loading, failure modes, inspection practices, testing and implementation costs.
Existing tire rules and ratings remain in force
The notice does not change any FMVSS, roadside inspection standard, tire load limit, inflation requirement or maintenance duty. A committee recommendation would still have to move through the federal rulemaking process before it could become binding. Drivers and carriers should continue following the tire sidewall rating, vehicle certification label, manufacturer guidance and all current federal and state requirements rather than treating the announced review as permission to use a different tire or loading practice.
Driver and fleet takeaway
No operating procedure changes solely because NHTSA opened this process. Continue checking cold inflation pressure with a reliable gauge, tread depth, cuts, bulges, exposed material, valve condition, dual-tire spacing and mismatched sizes before dispatch. Never exceed a tire, axle or vehicle rating, and remove unsafe tires from service. Procurement and maintenance teams should track docket NHTSA-2026-1717, preserve tire-failure and service data, and evaluate any future proposal against the fleet’s actual duty cycles before revising specifications or training.
Federal Register — Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Tire Safety
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